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Will laughed and shook his head, hanging his hands between his knees as he leaned forward and looked at Noah. “I fell in love over the span of three weeks, starting at my sister’s wedding in Maryland.”
Noah’s eyes widened. He knew the way Will, Liam, and Isaac had fallen in love was unconventional, but he hadn’t realized how unconventional. “Were they already together?”
Will laughed. “They were exes who were trying to find their way back to each other, and then they did. They burst into my life when I needed them the most. I was lost, I was divorced, I had buried my father a year before that. I had no idea what I wanted in life. All I had was a small nest egg in the bank and the desire to do something different with my life.” Will smiled wistfully. “I didn’t go on some backpacking trip to find myself, but in exchange, I got two men who I will love for the rest of my life.”
“And a cat café,” Noah offered.
Will laughed, shaking his head. “And the sodding cats. And a goose and our four bloody goats. And two men who love me back just as much as I love them. People will always tell you not to rush. They’ll tell you to be careful, to take it right, that love at first sight doesn’t exist. They’ll tell you that there’s a way to fall for someone, but they’re not always right. Sometimes, mate, you really do know when you know.”
Noah was warm all over, soft inside, and desperate for Adriano. Adriano had offered his hand, and Noah wanted to take it. More than just for filming, though he didn’t know that he wanted to reject that idea either, but he needed more. He needed to know Adriano would be willing to give him that.
“This helped,” Noah told him.
Will grinned widely. “Good.”
“I should, um…” Noah nodded toward the door, and Will rose, following him out and not saying anything until they reached his car.
“Promise me you’ll be back. For proper dinner,” Will ordered, and Noah laughed.
“I will.”
“No more hiding?” Will pressed.
Noah took Will’s arm by the wrist and squeezed. “No more hiding. I’ll bring Adriano.”
“I’ll look up some sign language videos,” Will vowed. “The American sort. I know the British one, but I don’t think that’ll help.”
Noah laughed. “No, and I think he’d appreciate that.” He got into his car and started it, pulling onto the main road and heading back into town.
On the drive back, he didn’t feel as awful. He had a few hours to sort this out, and he was ready.
He found parking in front of the café, a block from the address Adriano had sent him, locking up before he glanced down at his phone. He wasn’t sure if he was breaking the rules or not, but he needed this to be a surprise. He didn’t know if he was really brave enough to do it, but he needed to try. Adriano deserved someone who didn’t hesitate.
It felt like an eternity before he was standing on the front porch of Adriano’s rental. He could smell chlorine from somewhere, and he heard people talking a few houses down. He poised his fist to knock before he realized his mistake, then he pulled out his phone and opened his texts.
Noah: I’m outside your door right now. I hope you’re home.
A minute passed that felt like an eternity before the door swung wide, and Adriano was there, filling up all the spaces between them. His eyes were a little wary, a little nervous, but also a little hopeful. ‘Are you okay?’
Noah bowed his head, breathed, then nodded. ‘I’m good. I’m more than good. I like you, Adriano.’
Adriano’s expression went soft. ‘Yeah?’
‘Yes. And…I think I want to take you up on your offer.’
Adriano beamed. ‘Okay.’
Before Adriano could reach for him, Noah put up a hand. ‘I do have some conditions. Deal breakers. Can we talk about them?’
Adriano stared, intense and captivating, then he put one hand at Noah’s waist and pulled. Noah’s feet moved without his permission, and the door slammed shut behind him like a benediction. It was over before he could even start to fight, and really, he didn’t mind. Adriano’s body was against him, eyes drinking him in like he hadn’t seen Noah in years.
It was heady.
It was addicting.
Adriano leaned in, brushing a breath of a kiss to Noah’s jaw, then he stepped back, just out of reach. His long, thick fingers rose, and he signed with absolute purpose, ‘I’m ready to negotiate.’
CHAPTER11
